Clean Up Continues After Tug’s Fuel Tank Sprung Leak Near Govt. Cut

Nearly a thousand feet of sorbent boom by clean up crews after a tug boat's fuel tank sprung a leak. (Source: CBS4)

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Nearly a thousand feet of sorbent boom by clean up crews after a tug boat’s fuel tank sprung a leak.

The Coast Guard was notified Tuesday evening that the 95-foot Tug Neptune 7,800 gallon fuel tank was leaking near Government Cut. Initial reports indicated approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel had gone into the water.

It was later determined that an estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel had leaked before the ruptured fuel tank could be patched. The vessel is safely moored at Dodge Island.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Miami is monitoring the progression of diesel fuel in the water.

The Coast Guard said cleanup assessment teams have been deployed to areas that may be impacted by the fuel to monitor possible shoreline pollution and do cleanup if necessary.

Crews are preparing to deploy more boom to protect environmentally sensitive areas near the incident.